XIURENBAGRUS, A NEW GENUS OF AMBLYCIPITID CATFISHES (TELEOSTEI, SILURIFORMES), AND PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE GENERA OF AMBLYCIPITIDAE

Xiurenbagrus, a new genus of the Amblycipitidae, is established for th e single species Liobagrus xiurenensis Yue 1981. This taxon differs fr om confamilials by having two patches of vomerine teeth, lack of deep grooves along shafts of dorsal- and pectoral-fin spines, relatively ac ute snout, and short barbels. Xiurenbagrus xiurenensis is redescribed to include new data on its osteology and external morphology. The thre e genera of the Amblycipitidae, Xiurenbagrus, Amblyceps, and Liobagrus , are a monophyletic group. Monophyly of each genus is well supported by several synapomorphies of the skeleton and external soft anatomy. W ithin the Amblycipitidae, Amblyceps is the sister taxon of Liobagrus, a relationship supported by 10 synapomorphies.